I don't believe in an immortal soul or heaven. For me, once you die, your are gone and that's it. Nothing to worry about as you won't realise that you are dead. So why have funerals ?
Originally, in ancient times, ceremonial burial was meant as a way for the soul to travel safely to the after-life.
Ancient Egyptians had a intricate process of mummification, with numerous symbols and all sorts of rituals, that were supposed to facilitate the defunct journey to his/her new home, and wait for reincarnation. Other religions have all had their beliefs and superstitions on how to proceed with the ceremony. The body had to be interred in the ground and preserved in a coffin, or, on the contrary, burnt to prevent putrefaction and accelerate the cycle of rebirth.
What is common to humans of almost all cultures and religions is rich or powerful people's desire to leave impressive mausoleums or monuments in their own selfish memory. Christian cemeteries in Britain, France, Austria, or the USA are good examples of this disproportional self-esteem, where mini-temples (some with statues) are erected to the glory of a single man (more often than women). But this is far from being a Christian characteristic. Some of the world's biggest tombs belong to other religions : the Pyramid of Giza (ancient Egyptian), the Mausoleum in Halicarnassos (ancient Greek), the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang (ancient Chinese), the Taj Mahal (Muslim Indian)...
In many parts of the world, funerals are an expensive business. It can cost tens of thousands of euros/dollars for a regular funeral in Japan, and sometimes several thousands euros/dollars just for the priest to choose a new Buddhist name for the defunct (see article).
Even in the West, people spend huge amounts of money on stone monuments, fancy coffins/caskets, flowers, expensive ceremonies with as many guests as possible... and for what ? Nothing. The main concerned is not there to witness it. It doesn't serve any practical purpose. It causes financial loss to the grieved ones. And what is more, it is morbid.
So, are tombs and funerals just a way for someone to display one's financial success in life in order to boast one last time ? Is there any more egotistic behaviour than that ? I even hear people (on TV !) worrying that nobody would come at the funerals, as if it would matter for them at the time ! Unbelievable. I am speechless !
I have explained in this thread (2.5 years ago) that I didn't want any funerals when I die. I go even further. I also do not want any (religious) ceremony, nor being buried in a cemetery (waste of space, religious connotation). I would give my body to science, but it seems that even this is not free in this country ! For philosophical reasons, I would much rather have my body eaten by animals (which accelerate the natural cycle of life) than to be cremated (which pollutes the air and destroy organic matter).
I would describe this choice as motivated by natural, ecological, practical, financial, and anti-religious reasons. I hope this becomes the way of the future.
Originally, in ancient times, ceremonial burial was meant as a way for the soul to travel safely to the after-life.
Ancient Egyptians had a intricate process of mummification, with numerous symbols and all sorts of rituals, that were supposed to facilitate the defunct journey to his/her new home, and wait for reincarnation. Other religions have all had their beliefs and superstitions on how to proceed with the ceremony. The body had to be interred in the ground and preserved in a coffin, or, on the contrary, burnt to prevent putrefaction and accelerate the cycle of rebirth.
What is common to humans of almost all cultures and religions is rich or powerful people's desire to leave impressive mausoleums or monuments in their own selfish memory. Christian cemeteries in Britain, France, Austria, or the USA are good examples of this disproportional self-esteem, where mini-temples (some with statues) are erected to the glory of a single man (more often than women). But this is far from being a Christian characteristic. Some of the world's biggest tombs belong to other religions : the Pyramid of Giza (ancient Egyptian), the Mausoleum in Halicarnassos (ancient Greek), the mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang (ancient Chinese), the Taj Mahal (Muslim Indian)...
In many parts of the world, funerals are an expensive business. It can cost tens of thousands of euros/dollars for a regular funeral in Japan, and sometimes several thousands euros/dollars just for the priest to choose a new Buddhist name for the defunct (see article).
Even in the West, people spend huge amounts of money on stone monuments, fancy coffins/caskets, flowers, expensive ceremonies with as many guests as possible... and for what ? Nothing. The main concerned is not there to witness it. It doesn't serve any practical purpose. It causes financial loss to the grieved ones. And what is more, it is morbid.
So, are tombs and funerals just a way for someone to display one's financial success in life in order to boast one last time ? Is there any more egotistic behaviour than that ? I even hear people (on TV !) worrying that nobody would come at the funerals, as if it would matter for them at the time ! Unbelievable. I am speechless !
I have explained in this thread (2.5 years ago) that I didn't want any funerals when I die. I go even further. I also do not want any (religious) ceremony, nor being buried in a cemetery (waste of space, religious connotation). I would give my body to science, but it seems that even this is not free in this country ! For philosophical reasons, I would much rather have my body eaten by animals (which accelerate the natural cycle of life) than to be cremated (which pollutes the air and destroy organic matter).
I would describe this choice as motivated by natural, ecological, practical, financial, and anti-religious reasons. I hope this becomes the way of the future.
Last edited: